Leicester Racecourse

Leicester Racecourse is a right-handed, oval-shaped British horse racing venue in the village of Oadby, south of Leicester, in the East Midlands. There are both flat and National Hunt events on this track, so it gets plenty of use throughout the year.

There are two Listed Leicester races, one for each code: the Charnwood Forest Mares’ Chase over two miles in January and the seven-furlong King Richard III Stakes in April. The undulating course is about a mile-and-three-quarters all the way around. Leicester horse racing puts an emphasis on stamina, and that includes the flat sprint track which is seven furlongs in length.

Leicester Racecourse Events And Fixtures 2021

jan 2021

feb 2021

mar 2021

apr 2021

may 2021

jun 2021

jul 2021

aug 2021

sept 2021

oct 2021

nov 2021

dec 2021

WED 13th Jan Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

TUE 26th Jan Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

WED 3rd Feb Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

THU 18th Feb Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

TUE 2nd Mar Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

FRI 12th Mar Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

FRI 9th Apr Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

SAT 24th Apr Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

MON 17th May Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Evening

MON 31st May Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

TUE 1st Jun Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

MON 7th Jun Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

SAT 12th Jun Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Evening

THU 24th Jun Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Evening

SAT 3rd Jul Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

THU 15th Jul Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

WED 21st Jul Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Evening

WED 28th Jul Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Evening

SUN 8th Aug Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

TUE 7th Sept Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

MON 20th Sept Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

TUE 5th Oct Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

TUE 12th Oct Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

MON 25th Oct Leicester Midlands

Turf Flat Afternoon

MON 15th Nov Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

SUN 28th Nov Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

THU 2nd Dec Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

WED 8th Dec Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

TUE 28th Dec Leicester Midlands

Turf Jump Afternoon

Confirmed races in plain text. Confirmed pattern races in bold text. Unconfirmed races in grey text.

Leicester Racecourse Tips

Over jumps, Harry Skelton was the leading jockey in Leicester Racecourse events in the five seasons between 2015-16 and 2019-20, riding nine winners at a 36 per cent strike rate.
Aidan Coleman also partnered nine horses to victory in that period, but had a worse average. Adrian Heskin, meanwhile, had a 32 per cent win ratio.
The top National Hunt trainer was Tom George, who saddled 40 per cent (12/30) of his horses in Leicester races to victory. Philip Hobbs was the handler with the best average, however, sending out winners at this track with 47 per cent success. It certainly paid to follow these stables.
Flat jockeys to keep an eye on at Leicester Racecourse, based on the five years from 2016 to 2020, were Jim Crowley (24/124) and Silvestre de Sousa (23/117). Three trainers also saddled more than 20 winners in that time. They were Richard Fahey (29/157), Richard Hannon (27/171) and Mark Johnston (23/125).

The jockey's view

By Bryony Frost - Most successful female jump jockey in history

Leicester Racecourse is right handed, with a very sharp top bend before it heads off down the hill into the dip and you start to climb where it’s really soft. Horses drop back there but that shouldn’t be a concern if you’ve backed it because you can ride more of a staying distance than it actually is.

Hurdlers, especially on the soft ground, go right outside down the back because there’s a little embankment out there that can ride better than the ground. Once you turn that bend it can get very soft so that’s the point you don’t want to see your horse make a move if you can help it. He either wants to be on terms or a little bit ahead to try to kick when he meets the rising ground.

Leicester Racecourse Behind Closed Doors

Leicester races are currently being run behind closed doors because of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. This is set to be reviewed and updated in line with government advice, with Leicester Racecourse keen to welcome back punters as soon as it is safe to do so.

It’s still worth checking Leicester races fixtures because the decision to allow spectators in could change. If you book tickets to a Leicester Racecourse event that is then moved to behind closed doors, refunds will be processed through the official course website.